Stoke and Everton shared the points after a cagey affair at the Britannia this evening.
The home side looked to use Rory Delap's trademark long throw regularly as they began the opening 45 in a confident fashion.
Delap's launching seemed to cause panic in the Toffees' defence but they held out and began to play their way into the game as the half progressed.
Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic, who was looking to become the first man in the Premier League era to score two or more goals in four consecutive games, looked most dangerous for the visitors and they took the lead just before the interval.
Tony Hibbert delivered a dangerous centre that Marc Wilson could only head into the back of Crouch, with the ball finding its way into the Stoke net.
David Moyes's men should have perhaps gone two up on the hour mark but Leon Osman was wasteful after being set up by Pienaar.
Everton were made to rue this miss when Stoke equalised in the 69th minute through substitute Cameron Jerome, who had only been on for a matter of minutes.
The forward collected the ball near the halfway line and managed to ignore the attentions of Phil Jagielka and Johnny Heitinga before blasting past Tim Howard.
Jelavic could have stolen the points for Everton late on, but the Croatian's volley was weak, failing to trouble Asmir Begovic in the Potters goal.
Pascal Lemesre
